Opinion

If anyone was ever seeking a real-life definition for the term “tied up in the courts,” they can turn to case involving the proposed retail development off the French King Highway. Greenfield is now into its fourth year waiting for a resolution of the case — one way or another — with little, if any, light on the horizon. Yes, there was a bit of movement Friday with a ruling …
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“As long as the earth remains there will be seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night” — so sayeth the new chair of the U.S. Environment and Public Works Committee paraphrasing Genesis 8:22. “My point is,” Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., said in 2012, “God’s still up …
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The current administration is taking heat for not coming up with a strategy to deal with ISIS. Strategy is defined as a careful plan or method for achieving an end. But if there is no end in sight, as many believe, then perhaps a strategy is non-existent. The question one should ask is not “who” will bring a halt to extremism, but rather …
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The Recorder welcomes letters to the editor which should not exceed 300 words, be of general interest and in good taste and meet legal standards. They may be emailed to letters@recorder.com with "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line or sent via U.S. mail to Letter to the Editor, The Recorder, P.O. Box 1367, Greenfield, MA 01302.

Homeowners, who are understandably shocked and outraged by recent, huge jumps in their electricity bills, have been asking for my professional opinion, as a home-energy consultant, about switching to a cheaper electricity supplier. My reply: “Buyer beware!” While suppliers may offer a discount from current high prices, it’s …
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I don’t consider myself an activist, but when I discovered at the recent GCC Kinder Morgan Open House that the Tennessee Gas Pipeline is scheduled to be routed across the corner of my small property in Deerfield, I decided it was time to do some serious research. For examples …
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“Science on the defensive” by Tim Blagg in The Recorder, begs a hearty reply. “This whole phenomenon,” Mr. Blagg begins, “is particularly painful to me, since I’ve devoted most of my adult working life to parsing through the available information for facts that can be supported by solid …
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By just about any measure, this year’s winter weather has been one for the record books. As communities continue efforts to dig out, one issue will linger long after the snow has finally melted away: making up lost school days. Already, school districts are eyeing the calendar to …
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United States government officials arrange for proxy jailers in a foreign country to arrest a man, who is then held incommunicado, interrogated and tortured. Although our government determines that the factual basis for its requested detention was wrong …
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If an Amtrak Quik-Trak machine was installed in the John W. Olver Transportation Center, or a human involved in helping to produce Amtrak riding authority, two or three more people a week might board The Vermonter train in Greenfield. But how about keeping those who have already ridden …
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As a server who has worked in Shelburne Falls for well over a decade, I can attest that the addition of yet another restaurant will do nothing to enhance the economic viability or character of the village. The numerous restaurants already established here struggle to remain open during …
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I awakened on a recent morning to a mere trickle of water from my faucet. By mid-afternoon, thanks to Greenfield DPW, full service was restored. It is too easy to take our civil servants for granted. From my phone call to Judy at DPW at 7:15 a.m., to …
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Brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area: A tip of the hat to state Sen. Benjamin Downing, whose district includes a number of Franklin County towns, for thinking out of the box when it comes to money …
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I’ve been thinking a lot about heat recently — for obvious reasons. When I look at the windows of my 1852-vintage home, for example, I’m less likely to dwell on their lovely thin mullion sash windows than I am to consider the enormous amount of heat that I …
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